There’s something about buying a guitar that makes it personal; a carefully chosen instrument is almost like an extension of the player themselves. That probably explains why we get a lot more feedback from our customers than say, an online store selling computer parts or sports equipment might expect. Which is more than fine by us, because we love to hear the sound of your voice.

So today we’re going to take a look at one particular model that inspired musicians Lixiaoyang Li from China, Daniel from France, and John from North Dakota, USA to drop us a line: The Alhambra 11P Classical Guitar. And this is what they had to say:

Lixiaoyang Li – China

I have received the guitar, it is very beautiful, the quality is perfect, the tone is very beautiful, it is really a very pleasant shopping experience. In addition, I would like to know the model of strings, I like them very much, could you please tell me the model of strings? I would like to buy them later, thank you very much.

Best regards,

Word!

At GFS we are in complete agreement with Lixiaoyang Li here.

The Alhambra 11P has a warm and exceptionally well-balanced tone. Intricately constructed with solid red cedar top, dark ebony fingerboard and solid Indian rosewood back and sides, this is a powerful top-of-the-line instrument designed for professional musicians, as the P denotes.

Lixiaoyang Li also asked about the strings on the Alhambra 11P: these are D’Addario EXP 44 Extra Hard Tension, which capture the authentic spirit of the guitar’s motherland with exquisite detail, as well as flawlessly expressing the musical languages of countries far removed from Spain’s shores and cultural heritage.

And a shout-out to Lixiaoyang Li for already thinking about when the guitar will need new strings, because worn strings will compromise the playability, tone and intonation of the guitar.

Daniel – France

Hello Manuel;

I received the guitar this morning; it was very well packed; the delivery was very fast; the hard case is very nice; but most of all …. THE GUITAR IS EXCEPTIONAL.

I have never heard a guitar sound like this! and this is in my living room; not in a church with exceptional acoustics: what power in the bass, the treble; what warmth in the tones! 

The Alhambra 11P is really an incredible guitar by its sound qualities, pleasant and easy to play, and moreover, of an unheard of luxury with magnificent woods and a perfect finish. this makes it, not only a beautiful guitar, but also a beautiful object pleasant to look at.

This!

Alhambra have been designing and building guitars for over half a century, and this model is testament to the experience their master luthier’s have gained over the years. Many of these maestros have spent their entire working lives perfecting their skills at the Alhambra workshop near Alicante, Spain, where exceptionally detailed craftsmanship is the benchmark.

Musicians who buy the Alhambra 11P frequently mention the excellent playability of this model. The simple reason for this is that the instrument responds with what you want to hear: you could have two identical models with regard to every measurable parameter, including string action, scale, and everything in-between, but if you don’t know what to expect from your instrument, you’re sure to feel tense when you start to play. Here the sound flows flawlessly.

As for the perfect finish that Daniel mentions, the woods chosen for this model are outstanding, and something you would normally only expect from a concert model. The evenness in the grain on the solid cedar top is simply exquisite, and the product of an operation that began some time ago with the rigorous selection of raw materials at source, followed by a painstaking process of drying, varnishing and polishing.

John – USA  

Hi Manuel,

Some feedback on my recently-arrived Alhambra 11P…   I picked it up today and really played it for the first time and I LOVE it – the bass and middle strings ring clear and deep, and the high strings are beautiful.  It’s everything I hoped for! 

We hear you!

As well as the careful selection of woods and handcrafted production process, this model has a series of other important attributes that come together to produce the brilliant sound so many musicians are delighted to discover when they first start to play the Alhambra 11P.

One of these is the Spanish heel, which ensures the smooth transmission of sound waves. In this model, it is made of five pieces, to ensure a robust construction and powerful, pure, voice. Another is the sting action, which is a little bit higher than that of models in the studio line, allowing the guitarist to achieve a mighty projection for a longer period of time.

The nut and saddle also have their say: they are made of bone, which has exceptional vibration properties.

On a final note, the Alhambra 11P was built to last: John can rest assured that this full-bodied, concert-level instrument will be everything he hoped for for many years to come.